SL vs ENG 2026, 2nd T20I: Banton, Brook lift England 2-0 up

England registered a thrilling six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the rain-affected second T20I of the three-match series to gain an unassailable 2-0 lead. Set a DLS revised target of 168, England hunted it down with two balls left, thanks to Tom Banton’s unbeaten 33-ball 54 and a stellar cameo from Harry Brook, who pummelled 36 in merely 12 balls.

England invited the hosts to bat first, with Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka making a hat-trick of fours in the first over of the innings, bowled by Sam Curran. His partner Kamil Mishara also joined the party with a six off Jofra Archer in the second over, while Nissanka himself flicked one off England’s premier pacer in the same over to clarify his intentions. Archer, though, had the last laugh, as Nissanka played him onto his stumps to walk back after a 22-ball 34.

Sri Lanka made sure to capitalise on the powerplay, which they finished 58 for 1, with Kusal Mendis taking the attack to the spinners in the middle-overs, including consecutive fours off Adil Rashid. Mishara, however, could not keep up with the tempo, holing out to long on while attempting a big shot against Will Jacks. Mendis continued to attack and was well assisted by Pavan Rathanayake's quickfire 22-ball 40 with five fours and a six.

Sri Lanka were cruising at one stage with 200 seemingly in sight, but Mendis top-edged Liam Dawson after scoring 32 off 17, while Rashid pinned Dasun Shanaka lbw cheaply in the succeeding over to apply the brakes. Charith Asalanka hung around till the end, finishing unbeaten on 28 off 22, but England's late pullback kept Sri Lanka to 189 for 5. Archer, Curran and Jamie Overton took a beating, although Archer managed two wickets.

England commenced the chase positively, with Jos Buttler intent to score quickly with a flurry of boundaries despite Matheesha Pathirana getting rid of his opening partner Phil Salt in the first over. England lost another wicket in the powerplay when Jacob Bethell edged Shanaka behind. Banton, however, was in his element, belting spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage before the chase was halted in the eighth over by a long spell of rain that took out three overs.

Soon after the resumption, Buttler fell for 39 off 29, courtesy of Rathnayake’s brilliant catch off Wellalage’s bowling. From that point, Banton and Brook nearly killed the game with a 49-run partnership off merely 20 balls. Brook was particularly severe against Pathirana, hitting three sixes off the slingy pacer before toe-ending him to short third. Shanaka and Pathirana made England wait until the last over, but Banton and Curran ensured that they took England past the line in the end.